Mamata's FDI no trust vote: Oppn yet to take a decision

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's proposed no-confidence motion against the UPA government is set to face a key test at its admission stage in Lok Sabha with a large section of the Opposition yet to take a call on the issue.

A no-confidence motion needs the support of at least 50 MPs for getting admitted for a debate and voting. Banerjee's party has only 18 MPs.

Opposition parties - including the BJP and the Left - however, are unlikely to bail out the government if Trinamool manages to take it to voting stage.

On Tuesday, BJP's key leaders will meet ahead of an NDA meeting to firm up the alliance's line on the issue.

A BJP leader told HT: "Why should we be seen as opposing her," when asked about its support for the motion. Meanwhile, Banerjee spoke to leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj on Sunday.

"Trinamool Congress may say one thing now but may finally act differently. We will have to wait and see," CPI(M)'s politburo member Sitaram Yechury told HT.

The Opposition is assessing the fact that Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party can bail out the government.

"Survival of the government depends on the SP and the BSP but they have not said anything clearly. We don't want a no-confidence motion fail in voting as it would also be seen as an endorsement of UPA's policies. We have already moved a resolution on FDI," Yechury said.

CPI's Gurudas Dasgupta added: "The Left would neither protect the government in case of a voting nor take the responsibility to garner support for admission of motion. We are planning to bring an adjournment motion."

BJD with 14 MPs is also undecided: "We will wait to see what the BJP and the Left decides. But if the situation arises, we will certainly vote against the government," party chief whip Bharatruhari Mahtab said.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Naresh Gujral, however, said the NDA constituent is "opposed" to FDI in retail and will go with Mamata Bannerjee's motion.